UBa opens doors for a Hate free Institution   By Mbuh Stella Hate Speech is a potential source of conflict, contributing to thousands of lives lost around the globe, experts have warned. In Cameroon, Hate speech is practiced both online and offline. The phenomenon is a call for concern. It is against this back drop that Defyhatenow  a Non Governmental Organization is working towards raising awareness and combating Hate speech. Recently, a team from the organization led by Laure Nganlay Nadege, Communication Associate at Defyhatenow visited the University of Bamenda, UBa to initiate a program which will in the days ahead engage students  in the fight against Hate speech and other forms of information manipulation. During the discussion, delegation member, Derick Kinnang, who is also Research and Administrative Officer at Defyhatenow said 'hate speech is a can of worms that should not be allowed to take roots in the communities" Defyhatenow Delegation presented their missio...

PRIEST APPEALS FOR A REVIEW OF POLITICO ECCLESSIA RELATIONS By Cameroon Infotrend Reverand Father Joseph Awoh, Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Buea, Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University of Cameroon, CATUC Bamenda has pulled minds to what can be described as politico- ecclesiastical relations following a vitriolic reflection which he released on Pentecost Sunday 2021. As if to invoke the Holy Spirit for rejuvenation of the Church like on the day of pentecost, Fr Joseph critically examines every aspect of politics in Cameroon with the pastor at the center viz a viz the social teachings of the Church. The piece being shared and forwarded on social networks is captioned "THE CAMEROONIAN PRIEST TODAY: PASTOR OR POLITICAL ACOLYTE?  Read him.. In 2018, the International Crisis Group opined that the Catholic Church in Cameroon stood the best chance of mediating dialogue between the government and Anglophone separatists. However, the Crisis Group “briefing” identified an obst...

WHO BOOSTS COVID19 RESPONSE IN NW WITH COMPUTERS, TOYOTA CAR By Mildred Wung Equipment worth over twenty million francs CFA has been handed to the Northwest Regional Delegation of Public Health by Dr Phanuel Habimana, World Health Organisation's Country Representative . The gift composing of a four wheel Toyota car and twenty computers was handed  May 5, 2021 at the explanade of the Regional Delegation of Public Health Northwest Cameroon. It is ntended  to aid health officials in COVID19 response The equipment was received by Dr Kingsley Che Soh, Northwest Regional Delegate of Public Health  in the presence of Dr Dennis Nsame -Director of the Regional Hospital, Governor Adolph Lele Lafrique - Chair of the Regional Committee against COVID19 and a host of other health workers.  Handing the Equipment, Dr Phanuel explained that the donation falls within a scheme dubbed "Pandamic emergency facility fund" set aside by the world bank meant for social crisis stricken zones w...

TO COMBAT CLIMATE VULNERABILITY RuWCED EMPOWERS IDPs on CLEAN CHARCOAL TECHNOLOGY Picture: Charcoal making The Rural Women Center for Education and Development (RuWCED)- has in a capacity building workshop empowered some 55 women with skills on the production of clean charcoal within the context of a project known as "complementary climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies". This took place April 30, 2021 at the Special Needs entrepreneurship Hall, Fish okpond Hill Bamenda, and Cameroon.  The 55 who acquired the training were all Internally Displaced Persons IDPs, forced by the Anglophone crisis to settle in Bamenda. RuWCED's choice to train them in the production of climate friendly charcoal was in view of next week’s training on production of cleaner cooking stoves. This will help the women to move from 3 stone fireside which produces much smoke and encourages deforestation to cleaner cooking stoves with less health effects and more climate friendly since they...

  REFLECTION: WORK SAFETY World Day for Safety and Health at Work is observed April 28 annually instituted by the International Labour Organisation ILO to focus on strategies to strengthen safety, health management systems and resilience at work. The day calls to mind circumstances when work has provided a safe space in the  protection of workers and also times when workers have not had maximum protection at work. Think of garbage cleaners who go without boots and gloves yet come in perilous contact with refuse which is dangerous to their health. Think of doctors and nurses who handle the sick without gloves because management has not made provision. Think of those who sustain accidents while using machines at work, those who sustain injuries when they slip and fall at work, those hit by falling objects, those who are exposed to inhale toxic fumes at work and those who develope hearing complications because they are exposed to noise at work.  Think of teachers who have lo...

LARGE SCALE COFFEE PLANT INAUGURATED IN BAMENDA By Mildred Wung  The capacity of coffee farmers in the Northwest Region has been boosted thanks to a large scale coffee transformation plant inaugurated by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Gabriel Mbairobe. Picture: ultra modern coffee machine The inauguration of the plant worth two hundred million francs took place April 24, 2021 at the regional office of the Northwest Farmers Cooperative Association NWCA.  Local farmers and agricultural technicians witnessed the installation of the coffee machine that compose of a roasting mill, a cooling mix, a storage tank and destoner and a conveyor which would enable farmers double the production of coffee from one thousand five hundred tons with an increased revenue. Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture reassured farmers “I am here to assure that the government will continue to support them and the creation of this transformation unit woul...

SHUMAS RESPONDS TO NEEDS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS By Mildred Wung Catholic School St John's Ntaghem, Saint Joseph's Catholic College Mankon and Saint Charles Lwanga Catholic School Up Station located in Bamenda received pedagogic equipment from -Strategic Humanitarian Services" SHUMAS, a none profit organization dedicated to improving welfare of poor peasant communities . Fifty desks, two tables and two chairs were given to Catholic School St John's Ntaghem which until the gifts had classrooms void of benches. The offer was appreciated by the School Manager Rev Fr Gabriel Afumbom who said "we remain very greatful to SHUMAS for this donation. With the outbreak of COVID19 and with the suspension and resumption of schools calling on institutions to take all the measures to fight COVID19 we had that great challenge of social distancing given that our enrolment was increasing so we had to approach SHUMAS to help us to see how we can have more benches so we approaches and th...